WASHINGTON (AP) — District of Columbia police say they are investigating the use of force by officers who were captured on video apparently beating a man who was on the ground and handcuffed.
The arrest in the 5100 block of Cloud Place in Northeast occurred on Monday, and police say bystanders shot multiple videos. Police released one video on Tuesday.
In the video, the unidentified man is seen apparently damaging a car. An officer is seen taking out a nightstick and hitting the man in the leg.
The man lunges at two officers, who then wrestle the man to the ground. The officers are seen throwing several punches. Later, after the man is on the ground in handcuffs, an officer is seen kicking him.
Police say the officers reported the use of force as required by policy and an investigation is ongoing.
Chairman of the D.C. Police Union Delroy Burton says D.C. police can’t carry a Taser, but perhaps if they could, this situation could have been avoided.
“If our police officers had the option to use something like a Taser, that situation would have ended without our members ever having to put their hands on that subject,” Burton says.
“Because we don’t have that option, then we have to resort to baton strikes and going hands on with that protracted wrestling match that you saw on the video,” he says.
Also, Burton says the use of force, even when done correctly, is violent and not pretty. He says he thinks TV has distorted the public’s views on the use of force.
WTOP’s Andrew Mollenbeck contributed to this report.
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Watch a video of the arrest below. Editor’s note: Some of the language in this video may be considered offensive.
